A qualitative case study of the support experiences of residential service staffs for the independent living of people with developmental disabilities

This study explored the experiences of residential care home staffs regarding people with developmental disabilities (DD) in S. Korea. The research participants identified that the readiness of people with DD, their service staffs, service agencies and the society for independent living facilitated the success of independent living of people with DD. Differently from these contributory factors, low communication and self-determination competence as well as few social and relational experiences of people with DD obstruct the transition to and the settlement of independent living. Additionally, service workers' job dissatisfaction, the rigid organisational culture and the scarce awareness of disabled people's competence in our society have negative effects on the independence of people with DD. The research suggests the need to boost the positive factors and decrease the negative factors. Moreover, it requires the development of the national independent living model for people with DD.